Salicylic acid modulates colonization of the root microbiome by specific bacterial taxa

Immune systems distinguish "self" from "nonself" to maintain homeostasis and must differentially gate access to allow colonization by potentially beneficial, nonpathogenic microbes. Plant roots grow within extremely diverse soil microbial communities but assemble a taxonomically limited root-associated microbiome. We grew isogenic Arabidopsis thaliana mutants with altered immune systems in a wild soil and also in recolonization experiments with a synthetic bacterial community. We established that biosynthesis of, and signaling dependent on, the foliar defense phytohormone salicylic acid is required to assemble a normal root microbiome. Salicylic acid modulates colonization of the root by specific bacterial…

• HH
  Howard Hughes Medical Institute
• GA
  Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation

  Award: GBMF3030
• NI
  National Institutes of Health

  Awards: T32 GM07092-34, T32 GM067553-06
• NI
  National Institute of General Medical Sciences

  Award: K12GM000678